Friday morning could be big for Clemson

Thursday

Oct 3, 2013 at 10:34 PM

Phil Kornblut

Clemson fans will be on edge for the better part of an hour Friday morning between 9:30 and 10:30 as their basketball and football programs are in position to land commitments. At 9:30,l 6-8 Donte Grantham of Hargrave Prep, VA will announce via Twitter for either the Tigers or Michigan. Coaches from both staffs were in to see Grantham this week. He took an official visit to Michigan in early September and was at Clemson last Saturday. He made his official visit to Clemson last spring while a high school prospect in West Virginia. Some analysts are saying Grantham would be the most highly rated prospect signed by Brad Brownell at Clemson if he lands him.

At 10:30, LB Jalen Williams of Blythewood will hold an announcement ceremony at his school with Clemson and Appalachian State his final two. He also considered Towson. Clemson's offer to Williams, right now, is for a gray-shirt meaning if there's no room available in the 2014 class, he would not go on scholarship until January of 2015. Williams visited Appalachian earlier this season and has been strong on the Mountaineers since then. "I love the coaching staff," he said. "Coach Stepp and I have a real good connection. Me and coach Stepp are real close. I think they might still excel at that level (FBS). The facilities are great. The fan base is great." Williams was at Clemson last weekend for the Wake Forest game, his fourth visit to the school. "They told me how much they want me and I might not have to gray-shirt," said Williams, who along with his mother and grandfather met with Dabo Swinney and Brent Venables in Swinney's office on the visit. Williams said as of Thursday night he thought he has his decision but he planned to talk more with his mother to firm things up. "My family likes Clemson, they all like Clemson," he said. "Momma is always right, you know how that saying goes. And that's crazy because she graduated from USC. She's a big Gamecock fan." Williams had 102 tackles and 3 sacks last season.